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We have just received word that Murtaza Nek, MIT graduate and active participant in 350 Massachusetts and Students for a Just and Stable Future was arrested in a protest against the construction of the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline. Readers may recognize him as the young man who has voiced the importance of climate justice at several Occupy Boston events.

The southern leg of the Keystone XL is presently under construction with the intent to bring tar sands crude from Alberta, Canada to Huston ports. Last year, Dr. James Hansen, prominent climate scientist, head of NASSA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and adjunct professor at Columbia University explained the risk in a New York Times Op Ed:

Canada’s tar sands, deposits of sand saturated with bitumen, contain twice the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by global oil use in our entire history. If we were to fully exploit this new oil source, and continue to burn our conventional oil, gas and coal supplies, concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere eventually would reach levels higher than in the Pliocene era, more than 2.5 million years ago, when sea level was at least 50 feet higher than it is now. That level of heat-trapping gases would assure that the disintegration of the ice sheets would accelerate out of control. Sea levels would rise and destroy coastal cities. Global temperatures would become intolerable. Twenty to 50 percent of the planet’s species would be driven to extinction. Civilization would be at risk.

The update on Murtaza comes from climate and social justice advocate Dorian Williams, who writes:

Dear fellow proponents of climate justice,

Many of you may know Murtaza Nek as he has been an active participant of 350 Massachusetts and Students for a Just and Stable Future. Recently he took a trip down to Texas to contribute to the Tar Sands Blockade’s fight against the construction of the southern leg of Keystone XL Pipeline.

As of 11:50am on January 3rd, Murtaza was arrested in Texas while trying to provide direct support to his friends partaking in a particularly vulnerable tree sit for the Tar Sands Blockade.

For those of who have not had a chance to meet Murtaza, he has been an amazingly strong and dedicated ally in this movement. Having accomplished Climate Summer this past year, where he biked from town-to-town across Massachusetts supporting climate action and discussion, Murtaza brought back his organizing and bike power here. Every week, Murtaza would bike from Worcester to Cambridge and back to participate in SJSF and 350MA meetings, helping organize and participate in actions targeting fossil fuels like tar sands and natural gas.

Vanessa from 350MA sent updates for days one and two! First, for those interested, a schedule . The vigil is down in Boston’s Government Center (near the identically named T stop) and it has included people from 350MA, Students for a Just and Stable Future, Occupy Boston and more. All are welcome to sign up for a shift at 350MA site or just head down with a home made sign and let the world know were they stand…

Schedule

The vigil will take place around the clock from 10/23 at 5:30pm to 10/30 at noon. Shifts will last on average 3 hours long.

Every day at noon and 6pm — speak out forums (no 6pm speak outs on October 23rd, 27th, 28th and 30th as rallies will be taking place instead). All are invited to come speak out about why we need to End the Silence on Climate Change.

Every day, time TBA — faith portions of the vigil (check back soon for exact times).

Tuesday Oct. 23rd — Kick-Off Rally at 5:30pm.
Speakers will start at 5:30pm but we encourage people to start gathering at 5pm so we have a crowd during the rush hour traffic. We’ll have Shift Captain training there at 7:00pm – all are welcome.

Saturday Oct. 27th — Youth Rally from 3 to 4pm, Family Time from 4 to 6pm.
We encourage kids (and parents) coming for Family Time to come in Halloween costumes!

Sunday, Oct 28th — Rally with Bill McKibben starting at 5:30pm.

Tuesday, October 30th — Closing Rally at Noon, Walking/Biking March to Debate.

Day 1

Kick-Off for Vigil to End Climate Silence

50 people came out to Vigil to End Climate Silence at Government Center in Boston last night, October 23rd. The Vigil was kicked-off by rousing speeches by special guest Gus Speth, BU Public Health Professor Richard Clapp, and Better Future Project Executive Director Craig Altemose. Gus Speth, author and current professor at Vermont Law School, and whose positions have included Chairman of the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality under Bill Clinton, Keystone XL protester/arrestee, and founder of Natural Resources Defense Council, joined the vigil on the day his 6th grandchild was born.

Reverend Reebee Girash led the group in a grounding meditation, Marla Marcum led the group in singing “Gentle Angry People” and Dean Stevens in other songs.

Many passersby stopped to talk to vigillers, signed the guest book, expressed appreciation and pledged to return later this week. Words were exchanged in Spanish and Swahili and someone gave the group $20 to buy coffee.

Around 10pm, a family from Kenya emerged from the T at Government Center and made a b-line to participants of the Vigil. They excitedly shared that they volunteer for 350.org at home and were thrilled to meet Americans standing up to address the climate crisis.

Vigil Night Shift

By midnight Lisa Purdy, Ben Thompson, Dorian Williams, Anna Lello-Smith and her mom, Denise Lello, John Griese, Roman Madaus, Marla Marcum, and one other settled in for a cold, but dry, 6 hour long night shift. Bonnie Cockman arrived at 6am this morning to relieve them and to start the first shift of day 2.

Between 5:30pm and 6am this morning, the Brown and Warren Campaigns had already gotten 5 phone calls from the Vigil to urge them to end their climate silence during the last debate on October 30th.

More to come!

Vanessa for the Vigillers!

Day 2

We are the leaders we have been waiting for! 45 people participated in the 2nd day of the vigil! It was our first full 24 hour day.

1) From Day 2 Vigil participant Bill Holland:

“I arrived about 7:45am, joining the three people who had been there for the previous shift. Several other people showed up and while all seven of us were there we called the Warren and Brown offices. As the 8:00 shift got underway we had five vigilers. We were six by 9:00am. Three people walked up toward the T entrance and held signs while two of us held up the “Denial Is Not an Energy Policy” sign next to the main vigil banner. We called out “Good morning” to people who came near and received supportive responses. A couple people showed particular interest and we invited them to sign the guest book, which they did. Several people particularly acknowledged us for being there. Charley took over as Shift Captain at 9:00. All in all it was an hour well spent.”

Remember that everyone of your presence counts! We are so completely grateful for those who have stood out already and can’t wait for everyone else to join.

2) Every group of vigilers yesterday ended their shift by calling the Campaign Headquarters of Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown introduced themselves and said:

” I am here with (#) other people participating in the weeklong, round-the-clock Vigil to End Climate Silence on climate change.

Climate change is the single most urgent threat to our future, to national security, and to the stability of our world. Despite this, our elected leaders and those who seek office have remained silent on the issue. We, as voters in the Commonwealth of MA, ask that Scott Brown/Elizabeth Warren inform the public about their position on climate change and lay out a concrete plan for taking leadership to address it. We ask them to make this a central part of the October 30th debate, even if the moderator does not ask about it.

What do we want?

ALL: “Break the Climate Silence!” Thank you for your time.”

Vigil day 2 call campaigns

3) Another highlight for the day 2: Karl Thidemann of Somerville Climate Action made and brought a pecan pie! Bring food if you want! Thank you Karl! Others, please feel free to bring by some food for vigilers.

A quick update on the 10 people that were waiting a final hearing on Tuesday, after they were arrested for shutting down the Hobet 45 coal mine (a nonviolent protest against the practice of mountaintop removal, its impact on public safety and local ecology, and its impact on global climate trends).

“UPDATE 8/7/12: The remaining 10 arrestees were offered the same plea deal in Lincoln County Court this morning. All have accepted the deal. All arrestees have now been released at of 2:30 pm. Thanks for all of your steadfast support. More soon.”

… from the RAMPS website. This means all protesters involved are now out of jail.

Great news from the Lincoln County Court today. Half of our arrestees had their bail reduction hearings today. Instead of reducing their bails, the court offered a plea deal. In exchange for pleading guilty to the trespassing charge only, our activists were offered a $500 fine and 1 years probation. Nine arrestees have accepted the deal and will be released today. The other protester assigned that magistrate is Dustin Steele, who is free and has not taken the deal. What a relief and victory for all who have supported the Hobet 20.

This isn’t over however. The remaining 10 prisoners have a different magistrate and their hearing isn’t until Tuesday the 7th. There is no guarantee they will be offered the same deal or in fact any deal at all. We must keep the pressure on and continue to support our brothers and sisters in jail.

Dorian Williams waiting with the other 9 people for a hearing on Tuesday.